Liverpool’s win over Tottenham on Thursday put the Reds in their ninth major cup final since 2015.
The Reds have been transformed over the past decade, with Jurgen Klopp guiding them to victory in four of those finals.
The biggest, of course, was also at the expense of Tottenham. Spurs were the opponents when Liverpool lifted their sixth Champions League title in 2019.
One of the more celebrated players in Mauricio Pochettino’s team that evening in Madrid was forward Son Heung-Min.
Son has been a terrific player for Tottenham since arriving for just £22m in 2015. However, that final six years ago remains the closest he has come to silverware at Spurs.
With another chance at a trophy dashed by at Anfield on Thursday, it was noticeable that several Liverpool players made a point of consoling Son at the final whistle.
Liverpool players make Son Heung-Min feelings clear
Son has become a Tottenham legend over 10 years in North London. But as the sun begins to set on his career as a top level player, it’s clear that he should have won so much more.
Son reportedly wanted to join Liverpool in 2022 and its harder to think of a better fit than the South Korean in the Reds attack.
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Klopp was certainly a fan of Son. The German even admitted that not signing the Spurs man was ‘one of the biggest mistakes’ of his career as a manager.
And judging by the Liverpool player’s reactions to Son on Thursday, they may hold some similar regrets as well.
Son has praised Mohamed Salah plenty of times in the past and the pair do appear to have a connection. Cameras caught the two players sharing a lingering hug at full-time on Thursday.
Virgil van Dijk is another with clear affection for the Korean, a pat on the back and a warm arm around the shoulder showed as much.
Liverpool miss chance with Son
Had Liverpool signed Son when they seemingly had half a chance in 2022, they would still have been getting a player with plenty to offer.
He has scored 41 goals and registered 24 assists in 115 games for Spurs since. Not bad going.
But although Son is still a key man for Ange Postecoglou’s team, Thursday’s game was another indication hat he is no longer the player he once was.
The Korea captain did produce Spurs’ bet moment of the game as he slammed a good effort against the bar late one. But, that aside, he did not threaten at all.
It’s easy to dream of what Son could have been alongside big players like Salah and Van Dijk who clearly rate him enormously. But, unfortunately, it was never meant to be.